Batman is a fictional hero in comic books, but the caped hero inspires one man on a mission to help find new homes for rescue pets. Chris Van Dorn works with the Batman4Paws nonprofit organization that rescues and transports all sorts of rescue pets, all while dressed as the masked superhero Batman.
Dorn dresses in a full Batman costume living in Florida’s hot sunshine state, helping get rescue animals adopted and transported to their furever home. Dorn looked up to superheroes as a kid and recognized how Batman embodies the spirit of goodwill, hence his dedication to idolizing Batman for the pet rescue.
Dorn’s journey with animal rescue started in 2014 when his dad decided to adopt a rescue dog, discovering more about animal rescues working with nonprofits Dog Liberator and PilotsnPaws. At the time Dorn was pursuing his Private Pilot’s License and realized he was destined for a different path.
Dorn decided to pursue a new future that combined his love for animals, driving, and flying that formed the idea for Batman4Paws. Dorn was dedicated to helping rescue animals find forever homes dressed as the Dark Knight superhero and being a symbol for helping someone in need.
His dream became a reality when he established Batman4Paws as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization by Animal Rescue Professionals Association as a certified animal rescue transporter. Batman4Paws helps rescue animals in need of furever homes, foster homes, and no-kill facilities across the nation with Dorn dressed as Batman.
Shelters arrange the rescue adoptions and Batman4Paws provides transportation for animals to their new furever homes. The Batman costume might seem inconvenient given the hot weather of Florida, but Dorn says it gives him the chance to spread awareness for animal rescue. He says the costume draws attention with others asking why he wears it and gives him the chance to advocate for adopting animals.
